Does Hyaluronic Acid Cause Purging?

Though celebrated for its hydration benefits, hyaluronic acid may sometimes cause breakouts.

Now, since hyaluronic acid is an active ingredient in some skincare products, many are confusing this unfortunate reaction for a purge.

However, hyaluronic acid doesn’t cause purging but can cause breakouts if used incorrectly or if the product doesn’t suit your skin.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel the connection between hyaluronic acid and acne, help you identify if this popular ingredient is causing your breakouts, and provide actionable advice on how to minimize hyaluronic acid-induced flare-ups.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in our skin that works as a moisture magnet.

It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it an exceptional hydrator for the skin.

When applied topically in skincare products, hyaluronic acid penetrates the outer layers of the skin and attracts moisture from the environment or the deeper layers of the skin towards the surface to replenish and retain hydration.

This action helps boost the moisture barrier on the skin, enhancing its elasticity and plumpness and maintaining its youthful appearance by filling out fine lines and wrinkles.

This is especially beneficial for aging skin due to the decrease in natural hyaluronic acid production as we age.

In addition, hyaluronic acid can also help soothe and calm skin irritations, making it an excellent ingredient for sensitive skin.

It is also non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores, making it suitable for all skin types.

The Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is known for its exceptional hydrating properties and unique ability to draw moisture from its surroundings, ensuring skin remains moisturized throughout the day.

Its continual use can lead to healthier and more youthful-looking skin, thus making it an irreplaceable asset in your skincare regimen.

Here are a few benefits of hyaluronic acid:

• Hydration: Hyaluronic acid offers superior moisture retention, making the skin appear plumper and more radiant.
• Anti-aging: Regular use of hyaluronic acid helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, promoting a more youthful complexion.
• Soothing: It can help soothe and calm skin irritations, making it an excellent ingredient for sensitive skin.
• Non-comedogenic: As it doesn’t clog pores, it is suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.
• Improved Elasticity: It promotes skin elasticity, leading to a firmer and more toned skin appearance.

The Side Effects of Using Hyaluronic Acid

Here are some common side effects of hyaluronic acid:

• Skin Dryness: Overuse of hyaluronic acid can cause the skin to dry out if there isn’t enough moisture in the surrounding environment.
• Reactions or Sensitivities: Those with sensitive skin might experience redness, itchiness, or irritation from hyaluronic acid.
• Breakouts: Although non-comedogenic, hyaluronic acid products might still cause breakouts due to individual skin reactions or if the product contains other pore-clogging ingredients.
• Ineffectiveness in Dry Climates: Hyaluronic acid may not work as effectively in dry climates because it can’t draw enough moisture from the environment.

What is Purging?

Purging is a reaction to an active ingredient that increases the turnover rate of the skin cells and appears as mild to moderate breakouts on the skin.

Some ingredients that cause purging are exfoliating acids, such as salicylic, mandelic, and glycolic acid, as well as retinoids.

When incorporating these ingredients into your skincare routine for the first time, your skin cells will become stimulated to regenerate faster, pushing out any impurities or clogs that were previously building up under the surface of your skin.

This means the clogs that were going to become pimples at different times over the next few weeks will come out on the skin’s surface at the same time.

This is why purging is often called the “stage that makes your skin look worse before it gets better,” as it can appear as a sudden breakout.

However, once your skin adapts to the increased cellular turnover and the clogs, now pimples, start to heal, you will see an improvement in your skin’s overall clarity, tone, and texture.

While purging may be alarming and frustrating, it is actually a sign that the active ingredients in your skincare routine are working and clearing your pores.

The purging process usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, depending on the active ingredient you are using.

However, the purging process can be prolonged if you use other skincare or makeup products containing clogging ingredients, as these continuously create new clogs that need to be purged.

How can You Tell the Difference Between an Acne Breakout and a Purge?

Here are some key differences between an acne breakout and a purge:

Timing: One of the most telling factors is when the breakout or purge occurs. If it happens soon after starting a new skincare product, particularly one containing active ingredients that promote skin cell turnover, it’s likely a skin purge.

Location: Purge pimples typically appear where you frequently get breakouts, suggesting they are part of your skin’s adjustment process to the new product. In contrast, acne breakouts can occur anywhere on the skin and spread over larger areas.

Duration: Skin purging is usually temporary and should subside once your skin adjusts to the new product or regimen – often within four to six weeks. On the other hand, acne breakouts may persist until treated effectively, or the underlying cause is addressed.

Cause: Certain skincare ingredients cause purging, including retinoids and chemical exfoliants (like glycolic acid and salicylic acid). If your new product contains these ingredients, and you’re seeing an increase in breakouts, it could be a purge.

While purging and breakouts might be challenging to differentiate, here are a few distinct differences between the two conditions:

• Purging causes pimples that usually heal after a few days, while breakouts last longer.
• Purging causes pimples to appear more inflamed initially but subside quicker, while breakouts may start as bumps but get more inflamed over time.
• Purging can occur in areas where you usually get pimples, such as the cheeks or forehead, while breakouts can spread over larger areas.

Does Hyaluronic Acid Cause Purging?

Contrary to some misconceptions, hyaluronic acid does not cause the skin to purge.

If you’ve recently incorporated a skincare product containing hyaluronic acid into your routine and noticed an increase in breakouts, here are several potential reasons for this occurrence:

• Overuse of Hyaluronic Acid: Using too much of this active ingredient can disrupt the skin’s balance and potentially lead to increased breakouts.
• Incorrect Application or Usage: If the product containing hyaluronic acid is not being used as directed, it could contribute to skin issues, including breakouts.
• Reaction to Other Ingredients: Skincare products often contain a mix of ingredients. Your skin might react negatively to one or more other components in the product rather than the hyaluronic acid itself.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s skin is unique, and what works well for one person may not necessarily work for another.

If you’re experiencing persistent breakouts despite using hyaluronic acid properly, it might be worth looking into the ingredient list to spot any potential irritants or allergens or temporarily pausing its use to see if the concern improves.

How Can You Tell if Hyaluronic Acid is Causing a Purge?

If you have been using a product with hyaluronic acid and are noticing more frequent breakouts, this doesn’t necessarily indicate that it’s the hyaluronic acid causing purging.

The most important thing to do when this happens is to eliminate other potential triggers.

Therefore, if you have just started using a brand-new hyaluronic acid product and your skin started breaking out, you need to go through the ingredient list and see if other purge-inducing ingredients, such as salicylic acid, are also present in the product.

On the other hand, if you are experiencing breakouts along with dry, flaky skin or itchiness and irritation, this is a clear indication that there is an issue, and it’s best to stop using the product until you figure out what the problem might be.

Small bumps on the skin that look like a rash are often mistaken for breakouts induced by a purge but are actually closer to an allergic reaction caused by inflammation in the skin.

As I mentioned above, you might be using hyaluronic acid incorrectly, causing your skin to react and become inflamed, so the best thing to do is go through the product description and pay attention to the “how to use” section.

Lastly, if you just started using hyaluronic acid and it’s causing you dryness, irritation, and discomfort, it’s worth mentioning that the product might not agree well with other products in your skincare routine.

In this case, it’s best to either eliminate the hyaluronic acid product until your skin recovers or eliminate the other products in your skincare routine one by one until you figure out which one disagrees with your hyaluronic acid.

Can Hyaluronic Acid Cause Acne?

Though generally beneficial for many skin types, hyaluronic acid can sometimes contribute to acne breakouts.

This could happen if the product containing hyaluronic acid also includes other acne-triggering ingredients, which may cause the skin to react negatively, leading to breakouts.

Additionally, overuse of hyaluronic acid might disrupt the skin’s natural moisture balance, potentially contributing to acne.

Finally, using hyaluronic acid incorrectly can dry out the skin, triggering excess oil production and leading to clogged pores and acne breakouts.

To prevent hyaluronic acid from causing acne or worsening existing breakouts, be sure to use it in moderation, follow the directions on the product label, and pay attention to other ingredients in your skincare products that may cause reactions.

How Can You Tell if Hyaluronic Acid is Breaking You Out?

A breakout is a skin inflammation or acne flare-up that could be caused by a reaction to clogging skincare ingredients.

A hyaluronic acid product is likely breaking you out if:

• You experience a significant increase in acne breakouts after 1-2 weeks of regularly using the product.
• Your skin feels dry, tight, or irritated after using the product.
• The breakouts occur in areas where you typically don’t get pimples, such as your cheeks, which indicates that a change is causing the reaction to spread to new areas.
• The product doesn’t contain any purge-inducing active ingredients.
• The product contains clogging ingredients that create blockages inside the pores and cause bacterial overgrowth.

Now, bear in mind that only some or even one of these signs may apply to you, as everyone’s skin is unique and reacts differently to products.

If you suspect a hyaluronic acid product is breaking you out, discontinue using the product temporarily and give your skin time to recover.

If your skin clears up during the break, this is a good sign that the hyaluronic acid product is unsuitable for your skin.

This can be a good time to double-check the product’s ingredients and narrow down which specific component may be causing the reaction so you can avoid it in the future.

How to Minimize a Hyaluronic Acid Breakout?

Minimizing a hyaluronic acid breakout involves a strategic and conscious approach to your skincare routine.

If you believe hyaluronic acid may be causing your acne flare-ups, the following steps may provide some relief:

Moderation is Key: Overusing hyaluronic acid can disrupt your skin’s natural balance, potentially triggering breakouts. Therefore, avoid using products in which hyaluronic acid is the main active ingredient more than once daily.

Proper Application: Make sure that you’re applying the product correctly. Hyaluronic acid should be applied to damp skin and followed up with a moisturizer to lock in the hydration. Incorrect application can lead to skin dryness and subsequent breakouts.

Check Other Ingredients: It’s possible that your skin might be reacting to other ingredients in the product. Look for common acne-triggering ingredients like certain oils, silicones, emollients, and fatty alcohols.

Slow Introduction: If you’re new to using hyaluronic acid, introduce it slowly into your skincare routine. Start using it a few times weekly and gradually increase the frequency as your skin adjusts.

Break and Reintroduce: If you’re experiencing breakouts, pause using hyaluronic acid for a few weeks to see if your skin condition improves. If it does, try reintroducing the ingredient slowly and observe how your skin reacts.

Remember, everyone’s skin is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. It’s always important to listen to your skin and adjust your skincare routine accordingly to minimize hyaluronic acid breakouts.